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The Utah Warriors made it four wins in a row with an impressive 41-35 victory over the Seawolves on Saturday night. Fans at Zions Bank Stadium were left breathless at times in what was a whirlwind encounter. Seattle went toe-to-toe with their hosts but ultimately dropped their second straight match to leave the two sides with even records in the first half of the campaign.
It was the worst possible start for the Seawolves. Tyler Fisher crashed into the gainline on first phase from a lineout, and then Thomas Tu’avao blasted clean through on second phase to touch down under the posts with spectators still finding their seats.
A scrum penalty then went against Seattle and the Warriors pressed, with a thumping tackle from Lauina Futi on Caleb Makene only slowing their progress. The Seawolves held on, however, and finally a mistake at a lineout turned over possession and JP Smith relieved the pressure with a long clearance to halfway.
Seattle got their hands on the ball and Futi ran clean over Joe Mano to make territory on the right side. Adriaan Carelse then sent a raking kick into the corner pinning Utah in their end and giving the throw-in to the visitors. When the maul collapsed the referee was having none of it, striding under the posts to award the penalty try and sending Saia Uhila to the bin for good measure.
Within seconds Utah were reduced to 13 men. Mano was looking for revenge on Futi but his tackle was too high and he was sent to sit beside Uhila. Despite several scoring opportunities including two breaks down the right side by Futi, the Seawolves failed to utilise the numerical advantage.
Ironically Seattle would find a way through just as the Warriors returned to full strength. Martin Iosefo bashed through Makene and tore down the left side to make ground, and then Dan Kriel put center partner Duncan Matthews into space, Matthews calmly stepping back inside Bailey Wilson before accelerating through the gap to score.
Utah responded after Carelse sliced a clearance attempt to concede an attacking lineout. Uhila bent the line and then Joel Hodgson skipped through a half-gap. The ball went wide right to Makene who offloaded to Lance Williams. It set up a two-on-one and the end result was a walk-in for Mika Kruse in the corner. Hodgson was spot on with the kick and the flags went up to tie the game.
The Seawolves were hit with a double-blow just before halftime. Matthews was forced off with a bad hamstring, replaced by Conner Mooneyham. Mano came looking for work on the right side and combined with Makene to put the visitors on the back foot. Connor McLeod sniped from a ruck and when he was tripped up, he found Hodgson with the offload and the flyhalf was in under the posts.
Appropriately the same fate instantly befell the Warriors. Onehunga Havili went off for a head injury assessment seconds after Hodgson’s score and did not emerge after the halftime break. Within two minutes of the restart Futi, now playing on the left side, crossed in the corner after the rejigged midfield of Kriel and Iosefo had punched up the middle. Alatimu matched Hodgson’s earlier effort from the sideline and the scores were again all square.
A long stretch of unstructured play ended with a try for the home side. Makene came across to the left side and worked a give-and-go with Tu’avao to get in behind the defense. With only Carelse left to beat, it was a simple pass to Mano for a runaway finish and a four-try bonus point. Again the sideline conversion from Hodgson was perfect and the Warriors pushed seven points ahead.
The response was instant and spectacular. Simple hands to Mooneyham caught Mano cheating too far infield. Hodgson was there to cover but the Seattle winger was too strong and barely broke stride as he steamed through the tackle attempt to dive over in the corner. Alatimu was every inch as good as Hodgson off the tee, with his kick evening the scores for the fourth time.
Lineouts were being dominated by Seattle, but the scrum advantage was with the Warriors. A Seawolves collapse gave Hodgson a chance at the sticks just before the hour mark and he found his target to nudge the home side back in front. Ben Landry won the restart and gave his team a chance to hit straight back but this time the defense was up to it with Williams winning a breakdown turnover.
On the other side of the hydration break a cross-kick from Hodgson was caught by Carelse, who was immediately belted by Mano and spilled possession. The winger picked up the ball and crossed the line but his celebrations were too early as the replay showed Carelse was still in the air and the result was a penalty against Mano instead of five points. It was just a stay of execution as Alatimu missed touch and gave the ball straight back. Kruse ripped through the line and had only to pass to Cliven Loubser for another Utah score.
The Warriors bench was now emptied and the fresh legs were too much for Seattle to handle. A 50-22 from Hodgson put Utah on the front foot again, and before long Williams drove in from short range to put the result beyond doubt.
There was time enough to secure a second bonus point. Dewald Donald and Isaia Lotawa were now in and their added bulk in the tight five won Seattle a scrum penalty. Carelse punched the ball into the corner and though the lineout drive was stopped, Jake Turnbull drove in for the try with Carelse’s conversion giving them the losing bonus.
Both teams start the second half of the season on the road next weekend. Utah are up first on Saturday with a trip to the nation’s capital to face Old Glory DC. Seattle are also headed east, with their stop north of the border against the Toronto Arrows on Sunday.
SCORING
UTAH 41
Tries (6) – T. Tu’avao (1′), M. Kruse (26′), J. Hodgson (38′), J. Mano (49′), C. Loubser (65′), L. Williams (73′)
Cons (4) – No kick 2 (1′, 38′), J. Hodgson 2/4 (27′, 50′)
Pens (1) – J. Hodgson 1/1 (58′)
YC (2) – S. Uhila (10′), J. Mano (11′)
SEATTLE 35
Tries (5) – Penalty try (10′), D. Matthews (22′), L. Futi (42′), C. Mooneyham (51′), J. Turnbull (79′)
Cons (5) – No kick (10′), A. Alatimu 3/3 (23′, 43′, 52′), A Carelse 1/1 (79′)
TEAMS
UTAH WARRIORS
1 Olive Kilifi (17 Franco van den Berg 43′), 2 Tuvere Vugakoto (16 Joey Backe 71′), 3 Paul Mullen (18 Angus MacLellan 50′), 4 Saia Uhila (20 Jeremiah Noaese 61′), 5 Onehunga Havili (19 Jurie van Vuuren 39′), 6 Bailey Wilson (capt.), 7 Lance Williams, 8 Thomas Tu’avao, 9 Connor McLeod (21 Zion Going 71′), 10 Joel Hodgson, 11 Joe Mano, 12 Tyler Fisher (22 Calvin Whiting 61′), 13 Mika Kruse, 14 Caleb Makene (23 Logan Tago 69′), 15 Cliven Loubser
SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Mzamo Majola (17 Jake Turnbull 61′), 2 Peter Malcolm (16 Dewald Donald 74′), 3 Sam Matenga (18 Mason Pedersen 58′), 4 Ben Landry, 5 Ben Mitchell (19 Taylor Krumrei 64′), 6 Charles Elton, 7 Nakai Penny (20 Isaia Lotawa 77′), 8 Riekert Hattingh (capt.), 9 JP Smith (21 Karl Keane 74′), 10 AJ Alatimu (23 Mat Turner 66′), 11 Martin Iosefo, 12 Dan Kriel, 13 Duncan Matthews (22 Conner Mooneyham 38′), 14 Lauina Futi, 15 Adriaan Carelse
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Chris Assmus (Canada)
Assistants: Kahlil Harrison (USA) & Kage Green (USA)
TMO: Derek Summers (USA)
